| **Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income - Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 12 Months Ended |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
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| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]**                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, Tax                                                                                                        | $ (5)           | $ (6) | $ 0 |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, Net of Tax                                                                                                 | (8)             | (8) | 0 |
| Other Expense [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                      |            |   |   |
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]**                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, before Tax                                                                                                 | 13              | 14 | 0 |
| Income Tax Expense [Member]                                                                                                                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]**                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, Tax                                                                                                        | (5)             | (6) | 0 |
| Net Income (Loss) Before Noncontrolling Interest [Member]                                                                                                                                                   |            |   |   |
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]**                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, Net of Tax                                                                                                 | 8               | 8 | 0 |
| Net Income (Loss) attributable to St. Jude Medical, Inc. [Member]                                                                                                                                           |            |   |   |
| **Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Available-for-Sale Securities [Line Items]**                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, Net of Tax                                                                                                 | $ 8             | $ 8 | $ 0 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount before tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e637-108580Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e689-108580
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e637-108580Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e689-108580
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of tax expense (benefit) of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income for unrealized gain (loss) realized upon the sale of available-for-sale securities.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27357-111563Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e640-108580
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
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